Over a Dozen Kennedy Family Members Endorse Biden, Reject RFK Jr.'s Presidential Bid

In a significant rebuke of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential campaign, over a dozen members of the Kennedy family, including his sister Kerry Kennedy, have formally endorsed President Joe Biden's re-election bid.

The endorsements came during a Biden campaign event in Philadelphia on Thursday, where the Kennedy family members highlighted the potential threat of RFK Jr.'s candidacy as a spoiler in the 2024 election.

Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, praised Biden as a "champion for all of the rights and freedoms" that her father and uncles stood for. She warned of the dangers posed by former President Donald Trump to democracy and freedom. "Nearly every single grandchild of Joe and Rose Kennedy supports Joe Biden," Kerry Kennedy stated. "The best way forward for America is to reelect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for four more years."

While RFK Jr. is running as an independent candidate, capitalizing on his family's political legacy, the broader Kennedy family has largely shunned his campaign, calling it "harmful" and "dangerous." RFK Jr. acknowledged the division in opinions within the family but emphasized their united love for one another. "I love my family and I respect their right to their political opinions, and I hope that they respect my right to mine," he said.

President Biden embraced the Kennedy family's endorsement, reflecting on the impact that the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. had on him personally and the nation as a whole. He framed the 2024 election as a choice between two fundamentally different visions for America, with no room for a third-party contender like RFK Jr.

Why this matters: The Kennedy family's endorsement of Biden and rejection of RFK Jr.'s campaign underscores the potential threat of his candidacy as a spoiler in the 2024 election. It also highlights the Democratic Party's efforts to combat the appeal of third-party candidates who could siphon votes away from Biden and potentially aid Trump's re-election bid.

The Biden campaign event in Philadelphia came on the same day that RFK Jr. announced he had secured a spot on the general election ballot in the key swing state of Michigan as the nominee for the Natural Law Party. Despite the Kennedy family's endorsement of Biden, RFK Jr. remains determined to pursue his independent presidential bid, even as concerns grow about its potential impact on the outcome of the 2024 election.

Key Takeaways

• The Kennedy family endorsed Biden's re-election bid, rejecting RFK Jr.'s independent bid.
• RFK Jr. acknowledged family division but emphasized their united love for each other.
• Meanwhile, Biden embraced the Kennedy's endorsement, framing 2024 as a choice between two visions.
• RFK Jr. secured a spot on Michigan ballot as Natural Law Party nominee, despite his family's opposition.
• Kennedy's endorsement highlights concerns about RFK Jr.'s candidacy as a potential spoiler.